What the Fundraising 264: How Collaboration Fuels Systemic Change with Rebecca Darwent
Systemic doesn’t happen in isolation; it begins when power is shared. By placing decision-making in the hands of communities most affected by inequity, collaborative funds are reshaping philanthropy. This approach redefines who leads, who decides, and how trust is built in the places that haven’t always been welcoming.
Rebecca Darwent is the founder and philanthropic advisor at Rebecca Darwent Global Inc. She is an internationally recognized expert in philanthropy, a champion of collaborative giving, and a social entrepreneur dedicated to advancing equity, liberation, and abundance through wealth and resource redistribution. She co-founded the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) in 2022 and led fundraising, community engagement, and advocacy that resulted in a historic $200 million capital transfer from the Canadian government to Black philanthropy. Through her advisory firm, Rebecca helps families and foundations channel their wealth and networks to empower the underfunded communities. She is also a 2024 Young Global Leader, a Women Leader for the World Fellow, and a Canadian Millennium Laureate.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover how collaborative funds are redistributing power and reshaping traditional philanthropy.
- Learn why community-led decision-making creates more equitable and lasting impact.
- Understand what it takes to build trust and partnership in historically unwelcoming spaces.
- Learn why relationship-building is essential for breaking cycles of exclusion and mistrust.
- Discover how Black leaders are navigating and challenging systemic barriers in philanthropy.
Get all the resources from today’s episode here.
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If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.